LIMPOPO – The intention of the forum at Bolivia Lodge in Polokwane last Thursday was to present the municipality’s 2016/17 third quarter report and 2017/18 IDP budget. Due to the youths’ grievances about CDM’s empty promises it turned into a heated debate.
The debate began when Elizabeth Kgatla, MMC of CDM, started displaying impatience with the youths’ inputs.
Kobe said as youth they are concerned with the municipality’s spatial focus and the sport, arts and culture’s budget.
“In the previous term, both spatial focus and sport, arts and culture’s budget was set at R3,7 million and now it has decreased. We are concerned about the matter because these are key departments, especially for young people,” he said.
He explained that they have lost faith in the municipality because the youth have been undermined by the very leadership they trusted most.
“It is demoralising that the municipality has no confidence in the youth. Despite being failed, we still have confidence in the leadership and we believe that through communication we will be able to engage further and be updated about the adjustment of budgets,” he said.
“We will continue working with the district and local municipalities to ensure we achieve better goals for the youth,” Kobe stated.
He added there are job opportunities within the municipality and they feel priority should be given to the youth.
“Our youth are the greatest victims of unemployment.”
Polokwane Youth Street FM founder, Michael Kganyago, said the youth are the country’s economic pillars and they should get sufficient support from the government.
“The youth is our future and the government’s support towards their organisations can play a huge part in their lives,” Khanyago said.
“We cannot says our economy struggles to rise when the youth are always left out and undermined.”
A farmer, Mantho Mokoka, said agriculture plays a huge role in the country’s economy, however it is a pity that as farmers they continue to experience a problem with the land occupation for farming.
“The expensiveness of the communal land prevents us from producing enough and also creating job opportunities for the unemployed,” said Mokoka.
In response to the youths’ inputs, CDM Acting Mayor, Sammy Selamolela, said they want to see their youth living a better life, however it is a pity that the CDM cannot do everything at once .
“We are a new political administration and we need time. We need to work together with our people to ensure we shape our district better. Our key function as a municipality is to provide support and coordinate,” Selamolela said.
“Through the partnership with our chiefs, we want to grow the economy within our villages through farming,” he concluded.
